Policemen move the body of an alleged militant following an attack at a CRPF camp in Srinagar. AFP PHOTO

He said the group affiliation and identity of the militants killed in the incident was a matter of investigation.

The CRPF camp at Bemina is surrounded by the Police Public School and many government buildings.

However, the school was closed due to strike called by separatists in support of their demand for return of mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

This is the first suicide attack in Kashmir in the last three years with the last such incident taking place in January 2010.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

On March 2, militants had shot dead two policemen in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

“Initial reports say that five CRPF men have lost their lives. The two attackers were also killed in the attack,” Sheeri said.

CRPF personnel carry their injured colleague to a hospital during a gunfight with terrorists in Srinagar. REUTERS

The official said that it was yet to be confirmed whether it was a suicide attack, or gunmen directly stormed the camp firing bullets and grenades.

The chief minister said four to five CRPF jawans were injured in the attack.

"Besides three civilians were also injured-- they had splinter injuries and they have been hospitalised", he said, replying to the issue raised by members Balwant Singh Mankotia and Irfan Shah in the Legislative Assembly.

"It was a fidayeen attack-- both the militants involved in the attack have been killed -- the attack has been neutralised", Omar said.

Militants disguised as cricketers

Militants disguised as cricketers killed five paramilitary police in an ambush in Srinagar on Wednesday, senior officers said.

Two gunmen, suspected to be from one of the pro-Pakistan or separatist groups active locally, were shot dead at the scene, an open area of land in the Bemina district of Srinagar where children were playing cricket.

Policemen secure the area after a gun battle with terrorists in Srinagar. AP Photo

A senior police officer, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the militants pretended to be coming for a game but then took out weapons from a cricket bag, opened fire and threw a grenade at a group of unarmed officers.

"They first mixed up with the children playing cricket," said the officer, who was not authorised to speak to the media.

Hizbul Mujahideen claims responsibility

Militants disguised as cricketers killed five paramilitary police in an ambush in Srinagar on Wednesday, officials said, in the deadliest attack for nearly five years.

Two gunmen from the local pro-Pakistan group Hizbul Mujahideen, which claimed the attack, were shot dead after the assault on a playing field in the Bemina district of Srinagar that is home to a police school and barracks.

The Kashmir News Network (KNS), a Srinagar-based news agency, reported receiving a call from a Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman who claimed the "guerilla attack" and said others would follow.

Home secretary RK Singh told reporters that up to four men might have been involved and the dead gunmen appeared "not local but from across the border" in Pakistan.